The New Year Ahead

I have seen Dunny on his skateboard around town for years and run into him at least once a month in my daily walks up and down the San Lorenzo River.  I asked him if I could include his picture in my weekly blog.  Obviously he agreed or the photo wouldn’t be here, as did Cedric by the way.  The reason that I am including Dunny in  this week’s blog is because of my admiration of him for how he deals with life on the streets with gratitude and responsibility. He endeavors to do the best he can with very different challenges than any of us will face in 2024.  Dunny makes Santa Cruz a better place for us all. Thank you Dunny! 

“Experiencing Beliefs”

Our next retreat is scheduled for Wednesday, January 24th, from 9 am to 3 pm at the Villa Maria del Mar Retreat Center - COMING SOON!! We will be exploring the experience of beliefs and belief systems.  Why is it that we carry some beliefs

With absolute certainty such as there is no Santa Claus.  While other beliefs such as I am a valuable and worthwhile individual, we often carry with far less confidence.  Is trust and belief something that is random and unmanageable or are there resources within that we have to access substantive faith and love. Habakkuk, St. Paul and Martin Luther all said, “The just shall live by faith.” Maybe they were on to something.  I believe we each have the capacity to access and enhance the precious resources of faith and trust. Join us and kindly RSVP!

Villa Maria del Mar Retreat Center

21918 East Cliff Drive

Santa Cruz, CA

(831) 475-1236

Saturday Bridge Building  

 We are back on schedule, Saturday January 6 (the Epiphany) distributing bagels and socks, and lots of other items.  Let me know if you’d like to join us.  We depart my place at 12:00 (note we are beginning a half hour earlier and wend our way up to the Clock Tower to deliver clothing and enjoy 10 minutes of silence in the presence of the life force that surrounds us and is within us. Somehow, I geta deeper appreciation of that life energy when I spend it in silence with others.

Stillpoint does not have a stockpile of clothing, socks or bedding. We need your donations. If you have any of these items and would like to donate them, please do so. Stillpoiint and the unhoused community are grateful for all donations. If you would like to support us financially in our bridge-building ministry contact us at Stillpoint: Joel@stillpoint.world or (831)419-8290 or https://stillpoint.world

Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina on Zoom

Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina meets as always this Tuesday, 1/9 at 8 am.  At8 pm you are invited to be a part of a guided meditation in relaxation and awareness– particularly relevant for issues of stress and insomnia. Attached is the Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8352995499?pwd=RllrMlRrd2VTNFdZZW1hQTBTRDg3QT09

In the beauty of God’s love,

Joel+